Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1194291
B M & T ••• September/October 2019 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 38 T R AV E L DATA D estination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organ- ization for Washington, DC, recently announced that Washington, DC attracted a record 21.9 million domestic visitors in 2018, the ninth consecutive year for tourism growth for the District. Elliott L. Ferguson, II, president and CEO of DDC, announced tourism's impact on DC with city leaders and stakeholders at the organization's annual Travel Rally held on Woodrow Wilson Plaza at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. "An additional 1.1 million domestic visitors to DC year-over-year is a big deal for the city," said Ferguson. "As we market the city through our 'Discover the Real DC campaign,' we continue to show potential visitors that there's so much more to see and do in Washington, DC beyond the federal government and build on our momentum that's sustaining visitation to the city." Visitor spending in 2018 amounted to a record $7.8 billion, according to IHS Markit, up 4.3%, resulting in $851 million in local taxes realized by the District. Without tourism, nearly 300,000 DC households would have to contribute an additional $2,844 per household in taxes in order to maintain the current level of DC tax receipts. In looking at spending further, leisure travelers accounted for 61% of visitors and 43% of spending. Leisure spend- ing is up 13% year-over-year. Business travelers accounted for 39% of visitors and 57% of spending. Revenue from tourism adds up to crucial support to the local economy, as well as local jobs. In 2018, tourism spending supported 76,522 jobs in Washington, DC across all industries, which is up 2% over 2017. "The continued growth of our city's tourism industry reflects the overall strength and success of Washington, DC," said Mayor Muriel Bowser. "From sporting events to restaurants to music venues and museums, we have more to do and see in our city than ever before. We're proud to welcome people from around the world – to show them the city that is home to more than 700,000 Washingtonians, to create jobs and opportunity for our local busi- nesses, and to share the history and culture that has made DC the best city in the world." DDC's Travel Rally was held in support of the annual National Travel and Tourism Week, which is designed to generate awareness about the importance of travel from an economic perspective. Tourism as a jobs creator is a key focus of the week's mes- sage. The U.S. Travel Association, which Ferguson currently chairs, DESTINATION DC ANNOUNCES 1.1 MILLION MORE DOMESTIC VISITORS TO WASHINGTON, DC IN 2018 Record 21.9 Million Domestic Visitors Spent Record $7.8 Billion Last Year b+ MAYOR MURIEL BOWSER